Compared to her appearance in the anime and manga, the woman before Li Xuan was far more captivating in reality.
The graceful figure of Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira, carried an elegance that seemed almost unearthly. Her delicate face shone with quiet beauty, and her refined presence made Li Xuan silently marvel in admiration.
Most striking of all was the gentle warmth radiating from her. That tender aura softened her entire being and naturally stirred a sense of closeness in those around her.
"Do you have business with me?" Li Xuan asked aloud, though inwardly he had already realized that the Insect Hashira must be the one assigned to replace the Flame Hashira as protector of headquarters.
Still, he could not help thinking privately, A woman… that will make sign-ins troublesome.
To Li Xuan, signing in with male Hashira always seemed easier. With women, it carried awkwardness, for it required a degree of contact that felt far more difficult. Perhaps it would be better to continue signing in with Gyokko instead.
"I am Shinobu Kocho. Master Ubuyashiki asked me to examine the demon you captured alive," she said with a faint, courteous smile.
Before arriving, Kagaya had carefully instructed her to treat Li Xuan as an equal, to be polite and respectful in her dealings.
Ah… of course.
Li Xuan suddenly remembered that Shinobu was not only a Hashira but also a physician. She dedicated herself to research on demons. Her sword could not decapitate demons outright, so she had turned instead to extracting deadly toxins from the wisteria flower, which demons feared most, coating her blade with the poison.
She had gone even further. To avenge her sister, who had been slain by Upper Rank Two, she had begun altering her own body, infusing it with wisteria's essence until she had become, in a sense, a vessel of poison. She planned that if she ever confronted the Upper Rank who had taken her sister's life and could not win, she would at least perish together with him.
Yet such a choice came at a terrible cost. Absorbing so much wisteria essence drastically shortened her life span.
"Very well," Li Xuan replied. He led Shinobu into the main hall.
"Where is the demon?" Shinobu glanced around curiously, finding nothing.
Li Xuan pointed at a potted plant resting quietly at the side, where a grotesque head lay nestled among colorful blossoms. The eyes were shut tight, as if in slumber.
"There," he said.
Shinobu followed the direction of his finger. The sight of Gyokko's head planted in the pot made her usually composed face twitch slightly despite her calm demeanor.
She reached out with her senses. Yes, the aura was unmistakable. The creature was still alive. It was indeed a powerful Upper Moon, just as the Master had said. Yet to see him reduced to this state…
"I will take him back with me then, Li Xuan," Shinobu said politely.
Li Xuan frowned. "Can't you conduct your research here?"
"My apologies. The Butterfly Mansion has the proper equipment for such studies." She had noticed the displeasure in his tone and offered a gentle explanation.
"You may take him," Li Xuan said firmly, "but I will need to accompany you."
"And why is that, Li Xuan?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Because if I am not nearby, this one will run away."
"I will not allow that to happen," Shinobu answered with another soft smile.
"No. He will run," Li Xuan said, his tone steady and unwavering.
"I am a Hashira, Li Xuan. That should be enough." Her hand settled lightly on the hilt of her Nichirin blade, making clear her confidence.
"Even a Hashira will not suffice." His voice remained calm, but the refusal was absolute.
The truth was undeniable. Among the nine Hashira, Shinobu's strength was not the highest. Against Gyokko, her abilities clashed poorly. Her slender frame and poison-coated blade were ill-suited to pierce his hardened scales.
The smile faded from Shinobu's lips. Whenever anger welled in her, her face grew expressionless, and this was one such moment.
She was a Hashira. With that position came pride and unshakable confidence. Yet Li Xuan's words now struck as if he were questioning her very worth.
Shinobu was not a woman inclined to swallow insult lightly.
"Then do you wish to test me, Li Xuan?" she asked, her tone sharp with challenge.
Although she knew the Upper Moons were powerful, she had never fought one herself. None of the current Hashira had. To her, "capturing an Upper Moon alive" was impressive, but the true depth of that feat was still beyond her comprehension.
Li Xuan, however, did not care to boast of the Upper Moons' might or trumpet his own achievements.
"There is no need for such trouble," he said quietly.
He stepped over to the pot, seized Gyokko's grotesque head, and with a sudden motion tossed it toward Shinobu.
"Strike with your full strength. See for yourself."
The abrupt action startled her, but instinct took over. Her blade was out in an instant.
Her Nichirin sword was unlike others. The guard resembled the four petals of a flower, the hilt was a vibrant green, the blade slender and delicate with a hooked tip designed for precision. It had been crafted for her alone.
She activated her breathing technique. In a flash, the thin blade darted forward.
"Dance of the Butterfly: True Flutter."
A sudden thrust attack. Though her sword swings lacked raw force, her thrusts were sharp and swift. This one was so fast it rivaled even the Seventh Form of Water Breathing, Drop Ripple Thrust.
"Clang!"
The blade struck Gyokko's scaled face. The impact rang like steel meeting steel. The demon's head flew back, colliding against the wall with a heavy thud.
Yet when it settled, only faint white marks blemished the scales. The attack had failed to pierce even the surface.
"Do you understand now?" Li Xuan bent and retrieved the head, speaking evenly. "Do not be fooled by his current appearance. He may look lifeless, but he can regenerate his entire body in an instant. If I am not beside him, even weakened, nothing will prevent him from escaping."
Shinobu finally understood. Against such a foe, her poison could not even enter the body. Her attacks were ineffective, her strength wholly countered.
"Then you must accompany me. The Butterfly Mansion has empty rooms. You can stay there," she conceded with quiet grace.
Li Xuan nodded. "That will do."
To him, lodging mattered little. What mattered was being able to remain near Gyokko, for without proximity, he could not continue his mysterious sign-ins. That was the true reason he insisted on staying close.
Still, perhaps the Butterfly Mansion offered another opportunity. If fate allowed, he might even sign in with the Insect Hashira herself.
He gathered a few belongings without much care and followed Shinobu to her residence.
The Butterfly Mansion was more than a home. It was a crucial branch of the Demon Slayer Corps, a place overseen by Shinobu that served as both medical center and recovery ward. Wounded slayers were brought there to heal, to undergo treatment, and to train their bodies back to strength.
Most of its staff were members of the Corps who lacked the ability to wield blades effectively. Instead, they had devoted themselves to medicine and care.
From the outside, the mansion was no less striking than headquarters itself. Its architecture was elegant, the gardens filled with vibrant flowers, butterflies dancing in the air as if the very place were alive with gentle spirits.
As they entered through the front gates, a young girl with twin ponytails and butterfly ornaments in her hair came hurrying out. She bowed respectfully before Shinobu.
"Welcome back, Lady Shinobu."
"I have returned," Shinobu replied with her soft smile. She gestured toward Li Xuan. "This is Li Xuan of the Corps. He will be staying here for a while. Please arrange a room for him."
"Yes, Lady Shinobu." The girl nodded quickly, then turned to Li Xuan with polite composure. "Good day. My name is Aoi Kanzaki. Please follow me."
While Shinobu carried Gyokko's head away to begin her research, Aoi guided Li Xuan down the halls to an empty room.
"If you need anything, you may tell me," she said before hurrying off, likely to tend to patients awaiting her care.
Li Xuan was left standing in the quiet room, the faint scent of herbs lingering in the air.